My analytical research paper will be on the one of the biggest problems faced in America which is police brutality. Police brutality has been seen and reported more over the past 30 years. One of the worst incidents regarding police brutality was the beating of Rodney King. This took place in 1991 and we are still seeing horrible cases of police brutality today. One article I will be using is “The Black Lives Matter movement, crime and police brutality: Comparative study of New York Post and New York Daily News.” Written by Brian Chama. This can be found at http://lehman.ezproxy.cuny.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=138792432&site=ehost-live This article takes a deep dive into police brutality incidents including the killing of Jason Van Dyke. This article provides evidence and statistics of police brutality to support my claim. Another article I will use to strengthen my research paper is “Impact of Police Violence on Mental Health: A Theoretical Framework.” written by Jordan DeVylder, Lisa Fedina, and Bruce Link. It can be found at http://lehman.ezproxy.cuny.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=146319258&site=ehost-live. This article brings an analysis into the impact police brutality has on public health. In this article we see the negative results police brutality causes to communities in America. The final article I will be citing in my analytical research paper is “A FEW BAD APPLES.” written by Sarah Wise. It can be found at http://lehman.ezproxy.cuny.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=144464700&site=ehost-live This article helps bring attention to the corruption of some police in Great Britain. This article shows how prevalent police brutality has become to the point that it has grown noticeably outside of the United States.

The text that my upcoming analytical research paper will be based on is the Gettysburg address. In this paper I plan on pointing out the importance of the address to the United States of America. The address took place after the civil war in which President Lincoln spoke at the Soldiers National Cemetery. The address brought a great impact on the future of the United States and the people living in America. The purpose of the address was to provide a plan on preserving the equality of not only those living in the North/Union but of all people throughout America. I wanted to research this text because of its historical significance. Without us winning the civil war and the Gettysburg address being written, we might be living in a very different society. Our country if not for these events could still be a land driven on racism and profiting off of the work of African Americans. This address serves great value to the society we are today and will be in the future. I plan on explaining the statement of how valuable the address is by citing multiple historical text proving Lincolns impact through out the speech.

In the text “Outlaw: My Life in America as an Undocumented Immigrant” by Jose Antonio Vargas, it states the power and connotations of the words “undocumented immigrants” and “illegal aliens”. These words hold connotations and power in their own way. As stated in paragraph 11, the author felt anxiety and guilt when talks of “illegal immigrants” began. These words make those seeking asylum seem like criminals and mischievous people. Also cited in paragraph 46 the author speaks about how his fears of the label illegal immigrant has scared him so much he had to inform his employers about his citizenship status. These labels create division and put targets on the backs of those that come here seeking a better life. I believe the word migrant would be a better term to address Jose and those in his situations. The word migrant means “a person who moves from one place to another, especially in order to find work or better living conditions”. This word better suits those in Jose’ situation because it depicts an accurate image of people seeking a better life. This country was built on migration. People left their native countries and came here for better living conditions and to escape any challenges faced in their home countries. Migrants deserve to be treated equally and be allowed asylum based on their reasons for coming here. The terms illegal immigrants and undocumented immigrants create a narrative that those coming here are undeserving and are committing foul crimes. That is how powerful those words are.

President Lincoln and President Kennedy were both great historical figures and played important roles to the success of this country. Both presidents served as leaders during some of the toughest times in America. President Lincoln held office at a time that the country was racially divided. Lincoln helped unite this country and abolish slavery in which led to the Gettysburg address. President Kennedy held office during the cold war against Russia. In this era there was a lot of tension and fear of the use of nuclear weapons capable of mass destruction.

President Lincoln and Kennedy both addressed the problems that faced them in there era of leadership. These addresses had many similarities and differences. President Lincoln in the Gettysburg address acknowledged the sacrifices made to unite the country and hope for a better tomorrow. This is also shared in President Kennedy’s inaugural address with the hope for a better tomorrow. Where both addresses differ is when they discuss its purpose. Lincolns address wants it to be used to honor those who died in the war. Kennedy wanted his address to be seen as a way of wanting peace instead of living through a time of tension. Both presidents faced problems I still believe we face today. The problem Lincoln faced was racism and how it divided the country. Today we still see a society in which racism thrives in and continues to divide people. The problem faced by President Kennedy was tension over nuclear arms and possible nuclear war. We still face this problem today especially with countries such as Russia, Iran, and North Korea all strengthening their nuclear ability while having public disdain for America. These problems faced years ago are still occurring and have yet been solved or fixed.

Overall, both addresses made by presidents 100 years apart have the same thought process. They wanted to progress the country and be better, but unfortunately we still experience some of the same issues in their days.

Malcolm X was a very interesting man. While imprisoned Malcolm X stated ” I had never been so truly free in my life.” The reason why he said he has “never been more free” was because during his duration in prison Malcolm X spent time reading many things. In prison Malcolm began reading a dictionary as stated in page 1. He did this to help expand his vocabulary, but as time passed he realized that he now had the ability to pick up a book and proceed to understand what the author had to say. This narrative suggest that there is a direct connection between freedom and literature. As Malcolm X began to read more he felt mentally free. As he was in prison he was able to Malcolm expanded his knowledge and was no longer held back by the limitations of not being able to properly read or write. In prison as he expanded his knowledge and capabilities he felt more free. There is now no barrier stopping Malcolm X from understanding what is actually taking place around him in society and what is being said. Malcolm with his growth in knowledge feels more free than ever before since now he can understand literature. This shows the direct connection from literature to freedom. As you read more literature you open your mind to take in more knowledge. This helps you grow and in a sense become more free. That is how this narrative suggests the direct relationship between literature and freedom.

Language played a very important role in Amy Tan’s life. Amy spoke English and used language in many different ways. Amy spoke two different versions of the English language according to the text. She spoke “limited English”  around her mother and husband.  In paragraph 4 on page 1, Amy explains that this “limited English” was a way of talking intimately. She said this because Amy realized that the only time this language was used was when she was around close ones. The second version of English she used was around normal everyday people that showed up to her discussion about “The Joy Luck Club” in which she wrote. In paragraph 3 on page 1 she describes the language as complex and that she learned it from school. She did not speak to her mother in this type of English. Language impacted her perspective drastically. In the 2nd paragraph of page 2 Amy explains that her views of her mother were very limited. Amy claimed that when she was younger that she was ashamed of her mothers English.  This lead to Amy thinking less of her mother and believing that her broken English reflected the quality of what she had to say.

I believe Amy’s experience is very relatable.  I experienced a similar situation as Amy when I was younger. My grandparents used to live with my family and they could barely speak English. When I was younger and they tried to teach me something I heard what they said and thought nothing of it. As a kid when they would talk to me I wouldn’t really take in what they were saying. As I got older I started to really pay attention to them and understand that even though there was a language barrier, they were very smart and intelligent people. This impacted me greatly because I started to understand that if a person might struggle to speak a language it does not mean what they have to say lacks quality.